Inter Voyageur Trip, Temagami, August 2001
Trippers
Kari Johnston
Sebastian Bohnen
Voyageurs
Lindsay Block Glass
Cidney Carver
Max Muszynski
Ori van Velson
Patrick Osborn
Difficulty: hard (135km paddling, 47 portages to a total of 20km)
Day 1
Red Squirrel to Pickerel bay
3h on water
We awoke for our last “cooked for us meal” and set off on our way to Temagami. We were on the water by 4:25pm and said goodbye to our Senior counterparts, ready to begin an adventure not to be forgotten.
At 7:30pm we arrived at our campsite and quickly learned how to set up tents and make camp. Settled on an island across from our site was a large houseboat filled with rather intoxicated Americans. They entertained us playing loud music (sweet home alabama and the like). Halfway through dinner we were interrupted by a helicopter coming as close as 50 meters to our site, whose captain signaled us to put our fire out. Seb and Max paddled over to the houseboat to use their satellite phone to call Camp Wanapitei across the lake on Ferguson Bay and asked for a cooking stove, which was delivered to us in a motorboat an hour later. A quick lesson on how to go to the bathroom, wash dishes and brush our teeth, then we are off to bed.
Day 2
Pickerel bay to Unnamed Lake between Diamond Wakimika
8:40h on water
We awoke at the break of day and set off from camp. We did two quick portages and as we finished the second, the sky burst to let out a few drops of rain. When we paddled across Diamond Lake a nice tailwind prompted Seb and Kari to put up a sail using a tarp. Does Seb ever stop peeing? After lunch we decided to push on further than we had planned and made camp at the foot of a portage. Cid and Ori paddled to the other side of the small lake we were on and their boat floated away (says everybody but them). Kari and Lindsay went for a swim or was it that Lindsay pushed Kari and held her in so that she would have someone to swim with? We ate pizza minus the rancid tomato sauce for dinner and Kari read a passage from a book written by Grey Owl. everyone fell asleep quickly tired from the day past and excited for the days to come.
Day 3
Portage Site to Hortense
11h on water
We broke camp in incredible time this morning (1:45h) – considering we simultaneously did a 400-yard portage. The group saw the last signs of civilization for three days on Wkimika as a young Misa-Bi native was building a log cabin on the beach shore. We overcame five difficult portages today and everyone did an incredible job! The 1215 yard portage started on a spruce bog and the group found some flytrap plants. Somebody dared Patrick to put the head of a gummy bear in, which eventually turned into a gooey mess. Lindsay carried the heavy food pack “Thelma” for the fist time. Max and Kari tried to remember “Redemption Son”. The girls and Seb finished the last portage while Kari and the boys set up camp. Max helped out with the fire – attempting to tell the sticks who were the boss. We ate yummy stir fry for dinner then everyone was off to bed.
Day 4
Hortense to Lake #13
10:15h on water (Max and Seb 11:15h)
Today was a hard day. It began with two quick portages that landed us in Nasmith creek. The water levels were low so we ended up dragging through most of the creek. Along the way we saw many beaver dams and some beautiful examples of Old growth pine trees. Are those logging trucks we hear in the distance? Late in the day we stumbled across our last portage. The 1600. It took us 4 hours to complete the trail uphill. Lindsay carried Thelma the entire way. We were all so proud. She credits Max with the moral support that helped her through. Seb and Max finished the portage while the rest set up camp. On the site Max, Seb and Lindsay went for a swim and Max found a pen from Germany. After dinner Max read to us a weasel story and we were all off to bed.
Day 5
Lake #13 to Pinetorch
11h on water
We had 10 portages today. Most of them were short and easy. On one we saw fresh bear scat. At lunchtime we ran into a group from Camp Keewaydin. they didn’t look very happy. Cid carried “Thelma”, and Max sterned the camper boat bravely through strong head winds leading up to our second last portage of the day which turned out to be leading through a dried out creek bed the entire way. There is nothing like boulder hopping with a pack on your back. On the campsite Seb made Macaroni and cheese to everyone’s delight, Kari broke the filter handle. Max and Seb put the bear canoe out for the night. We were in bed quickly and fell asleep to the soothing sound of rain
Day 6
Pinetorch to Ames Creek
7:30h on water
We awoke to gray skies that quickly cleared. Kari, Cid, Lindsay, max and Patrick played the song game all morning long as we winded through Ames creek. The Ames creek seemed to be nothing more than watery mud, as Seb quickly found out when he stepped out of the boat to see how deep it was. At one portage our boats got stuck in the mud 30 meters from shore. Seb looked like he was having so much fun in the mud we let him drag the boats to shore while the rest of us found a less muddy route. Kari, Cid and Max did an extra run on the 1140 at the end of the day while the rest set up the site. We were all on site by 5pm, that is the earliest time so far. What looked like a small lake was discovered to be just a few inches of water on a very muddy bottom when Seb, Cid and Lindsay attempted to go swimming. For dinner we ate a potato dish that was really yummy – but a little peppery. For dessert we had carrot/apple cake that was gobbled down quickly. Everyone was in bed as the sun set. PS: Max found a spoon.
Day 7
Ames Creek to Duff
8:30h on water
Today we had a pretty easy day. We only did two portages. One 1000 yard was really muddy near the beginning so Seb tried to make a bridge of sticks. Cid, Max and Lindsay and Patrick nevertheless fell into the mud.
The 400 yard potage was easy and flat, Ori carried the food pack Zoe. The portage ended on Florence Lake where we all jumped into the crystal water for a well deserved swim after we ate lunch. The lake was windex blue and we could see for a really long distance under water with our goggles on. After the swim we paddled another two hours to our site. Along the way we went through a creek with reeds towering high above our heads. We dicovered that a lot of spiders must live on these because our boats were full of them afterwards. On the site Patrice attempted to fly and Max splinted Kari’s broken leg. Lindsay made cookies for dessert. At night Seb took everyone out stargazing, we identified the four major constellations (Big Dipper, Little Dipper, Cassiopeia, and Northern Cross) although the bright shining full- moon made the stars look rather faint.
Day 8
Duff to Macpherson
11:20h on water
Today Max led the trip for his firsts. Seb got to pretend to be a camper. It was an extremely hot day. So hot that our gummy dionosaurs melted and when Seb threw them to Max they sank to the bottom of the lake. Near the end of the day we had a bunch of short portages through a forest that has recently burned down in a fire. We found lots of blueberries, rasberries and even cranberries growing out of the burned soil. Cid and Lindsay collected them in a Nalgene so that we could put them into the bannock dough for tomorrows bread. On one of the portages Ori got lost – but blew his whistle so Seb and Kari could find him and show him the right path. We arrived at our campsite with just half an hour of day light left and because Kari was sick today she went straight to bed after yummy Mac and cheese for dinner. Max read Seb from his book while the bannock was baking. Congratulations to him for a very challenging day.
Day 9
Macpherson to Helen Falls
8:50h on water
Today was supposed to be a short day but in anticipation for Center Falls we decided to push further. We stopped to swim and have lunch at the famous Shangri La campsite. The waterfalls and slides were perfect to play and slide on until we discovered we were covered from head to toes with black inchworms. We paddled and portaged for the rest of the afternoon, meeting a Langskip trip and ending on a most beautiful campsite across from Helen Falls. The last 500 yard portage led over a hill with a steep decent but paid off with a gorgeous view. Helen Falls were another great spot to swim and play until well into the night.
Day 10
Helen Falls to Willow Island
6:30h on water
We had a relaxing day thanks to our hard work yesterday. We spend lunch and some leisure time hanging out at Center Falls, meeting other camps (Wapomeo, Northwaters, Langskip and Wanapitei) and playing again on natural waterslides. We arrived early on our site on Willow Island with enough time to lounge in the sun, read and go for another swim. Congratulations to Patrick who worked with Kari on his swimming skills. As we finished dinner storm clouds rolled in so we prepared for the night and the storm. Max led everyone through the lightning drill while we sang at the top of our lungs and played Mafia, Whiz-bounce-boing-shoot, and zip zap zoup. The rain continued through the night but the slightly damp voyagers slept soundly.
Day 11
Willow Island to Sharp Rock Inlet
8:30h on water
Max awoke early to lead the group for a full day one more time. Before everyone was out of bed, he had already started a wet wood fire. On the first portage we began to wonder why we found the food pack Thelma gave of a smell that wasn’t there before. Max bravely takes on the task to open the bag and dig deep into it. Protecting his nose with his shirt he finds two pasta dinners spoiled from water damage. Luckily we are close to civilization again by tomorrow. On Diamond Lake we see ancient Native pictographs and soon after we finish of the trip. We end the day with a meditation that Kari and Seb lead the group through, the first attempt is abruptly ended with a noise Patrick emits into the silence and makes everyone burst out in laughter. Kari and Seb put up their tent on a rock and a good nights sleep is had by all.
Day 12
Sharp Rock Inlet to Long Island
6h on water
An easy paddle in the morning landed us at the base of Devil’s mountain before lunch. A quick climb up brings us to see a spectecular view of Lake Temagami. Seb tells us the legend of the evil Manito and after the hike down we stop at Camp Keewaydin who helped us out. On Rabbitnose point we stopped for lunch that we eat after everyone chased a Ruffed Grouse. Bannock with apples and brown sugar turn out to be a nice treat. We arrive on long island with plenty of time to spare. The kids set out to complete their solos armed with paper and pen and some with a tarp. The three hours of solitude in the wilderness were a unique lesson for all, reuniting to dinner everyone shared their experience with the others: Ori’s rock friend Fred, Cid’s poem and board game, Patrick’s rock throwing, Lindsay’s peeled stick and Max’s letters and poem. Max, Lindsay and Cid stayed up late to watch the stars and the Bannock cook.
Day 13
Long Island to Matagama Point
2:10h on water
A quick paddle and we arrive at our site before lunch. Max makes a sauna that we all enjoy this afternoon. A quick stop from the Bear island police reminds us of the fire ban so we set out to make dinner with the stove. Stories and memories are shred under the tarp as we fall asleep for the last time in the Temagami wilds. Goodnight and thank you for an amazing trip.
Catch sayings
Joe Mama
Dammnit Janet, I love you
Cheese Puffs
Geex Louis
Across her nose not up it
JOR Mama
J – o – r
You’re an Imhoff
I’m mighty and this much more
You’re funny. Funny looking
You’d better sleep with one eye open
Go such an egg
Go dig a hole
Pass my poo
I’m gonna master flip
Patrick!!
We rock. We are hardcore
Inter Voyageur Song (to the melody of leaving on jet plane)
1.
All our bags are packed and we are ready to go
we were saying goodbye
as we had just said hello
we were leaving for adventure
adventure in temagami
The bus waitin
in the early morn
adventures ready to be born
we were seven individuals
molding into one
chorus
so come around and watch the fire
tell us stories, while we expire
hold your thoughts and never let them go
cause you missed out on a great time
14 truly were sublime
oh yah! we laughed and cried
We paddled hard and portaged too
the sun shone bright
the sky’s so blue
we swam in rapids and played in waterfalls
chorus.